title: Verification of serum reference intervals for free light chains in a local South African population.
abstract: Monoclonal serum free light chain measurements are used to follow up and manage patients with monoclonal gammopathies, and abnormal serum free light chain ratios are associated with risk of progression in certain diseases. We aimed to validate the reference intervals in our population. Reference intervals for κ and λ free light chains were established on 120 healthy adults. Creatinine levels were measured to exclude renal dysfunction and serum protein electrophoresis was performed. All creatinine values were within normal limits. After exclusion of subjects with abnormal serum protein electrophoreses, 113 subjects were available for analysis. The 95% reference interval was 6.3-20.6 mg/L for κ free light chains, 8.7-25.9 mg/L for λ free light chains and 0.46-1.23 for free light chain ratio. Most of the values fell within the manufacturer's recommended limits and therefore could be used for our population.
authors.affiliation: , Division of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg Hospital, , Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Annalise E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Zemlin
authors.forename: Megan A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rensburg
authors.forename: Hayley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ipp
authors.forename: Jurie J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Germishuys
authors.forename: Rajiv T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Erasmus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000097:blood*; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D044967:Serum / Q000276:immunology; D013019:South Africa; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains; D003404:Creatinine
keywords: HIV; Immunoglobulin; Immunology